Monthly Archive for May, 2009

Day-trip in Philadelphia

On Memorial Day, I had a chance to finally get out of New York city, yes after more than a year, it was time! I followed my friends out of the state, took the bus at 7 in the morning in Chinatown NY and arrived one hour and a half later in Chinatown Philadelphia.

We went there without any expectations. The idea was just a day off somewhere else.

We skipped the historical district, we just had a look at the Liberty Bell, passed a few Memorial Day ceremonies, then got lost in the downtown area, had a HUGE and excellent Philly Cheesesteak, tried the subway, just for fun, and finished our trip with the famous stairs you can see in the movie Rocky.

I’m not going into details, here’s a slideshow with things that inspired me that day.

Also check:

- Isaiah Zagar’s mosaic work and The Magic Gardens

- David Guinn’s mural paintings

- The Love Logo on JFK Plaza

- Steak on South Philly Cheesesteak

- Retrospect Vintage Store

Posted
on May 26, 2009
in frenchy and the city
. 2 Comments

Passion Pit - The Reeling

This is an excellent remix of “The Reeling” (Passion Pit) by Calvin Harris.

Passion Pit releases it’s new album today! Check their myspace page for more music!

Posted
on May 19, 2009
in playlist
. 0 Comments

And Starbucks created…

… ICE CREAM!!!

There’s not much to say except that the one I tried was the perfect taste of a Java Chip Frappucino freshly made! And each spoon is so full of flavor, you don’t have to eat the whole ice cream to get your dose! The pint lasts longer! Check Starbucks Ice Cream website for the different flavors:

Posted
on May 14, 2009
in gooood foood!
. 0 Comments

Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer

Here’s an excellent tune from a half-brooklynite / half-texan band called
Neon Indian: “Deadbeat Summer” [mp3]

They have an upcoming album, and I can’t wait to hear more from them! This song makes me in such a good mood! I love it!

What makes me smile is how music blogs try to describe the music genre: “nostalgia-laced”, “psychedelic” “dream-wave”, “drowsy”, “lo-fi pop”.

Posted
on May 12, 2009
in playlist
. 1 Comment

Lily of Brooklyn

This is the story of a little flower that made my heart melt.

Wandering in Brooklyn Heights this Sunday may 10th, taking random pictures I smelded a familiar fragrance. Under my nose a field of flowers that we call “Muguet” in french.

And there is a tradition in France on May first, to offer a bouquet of Muguet to your beloved, friends and family. As it was a private garden I just picked one stem to carry home and enjoy its smell till it dries out (thief!). Along the way I was trying to figure out the name of this flower in english, without success.

I hold that stem between my fingers as one would hold a cigarette and forgot about it while taking pictures. Then came the moment when I was flirting with the devil on a mysterious house…

… and I heard a sweet little voice saying

“A Lily of the Valley!”

And there she was, smiling at me, a 5 year old little girl talking about a “Lily of the Valley”. Voiceless, I stared at her and she understood that I had no clue of what she was talking about.

“The flower, it’s a Lily in the Valley” she repeated.

I had nothing better to say than

“Really?” and I was wondering how she could possibly know that, and again she read my thoughts and said

“Yes, and my name is Lily like the flower.”

She smiled at me and ran after her father walking further ahead.

“You have the sweetest name ever!” I shouted, stupidly.

My heart melted and by the time I realized what just happened, she was gone. I didn’t have the time to thank her. I wanted to offer her the stem, but it was too late. I guess she knew how I felt, as she was reading my thoughts during our 2 seconds conversation.

That little girl made my day. - Thank you MY “Lily of Brooklyn”

Posted
on May 11, 2009
in discover brooklyn and miscellaneous
. 5 Comments

Under the BQE

A week ago I left Park Slope and moved (back) in a neighborhood called Cobble Hill. I recently wrote about this nice area from Brooklyn on that blog - From Park Slope to Cobble Hill and also old photos from the time I first arrived in BK. And even if I spent two months here in dec07-jan08, there’s a whole part of it that I never saw.

The journey begins with a left turn out of the building where I live, I cross Henry Street and I can’t prevent myself to pull my camera out and shoot the restaurant signs across the street.

I continue my way to the west side after two blocks I cross an entrance of the BQE (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway) and arrive under the Heights of Prospect.

I’m walking under the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and found myself in front of a construction area that is supposed to be the future location of Brooklyn Bridge Park at the waterfront.

The other side of the road are the BQE foundations and as you can see, it could need at little facelift! But there are very interesting shapes and textures.

At the end of that road is the Brooklyn Bridge and this is where to pass from Brooklyn Heights to Dumbo.

I decided to go back to Cobble Hill by walking on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade but my camera was too curious and I got lost in the paralell streets.

This post is already long enough so I will split today’s adventure in two. And stay tuned because there’s an upcoming heart-melting story!  (I didn’t recover from it yet - oh Lily!)

Posted
on May 9, 2009
in discover brooklyn
. 643 Comments

Cocosuma - Charlotte’s On Fire

The sun is back in Brooklyn after 3 looong rainy days… let’s celebrate with good music!
Cocosuma - Charlotte’s On Fire

Posted
on May 6, 2009
in playlist
. 2 Comments